Moving from Fundamental Research to Translational Research”: Prof. C. Muthamizhchelvan, Vice Chancellor, SRMIST, on ₹1-Crore Solar Technology Licensing Agreement with Anabond Limited, Chennai

Chennai, Mar 09: In a significant step toward strengthening India’s clean energy manufacturing ecosystem, SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) has licensed a patented solar cell encapsulant technology to Chennai-based specialty materials manufacturer Anabond Limited. The agreement represents an important milestone in the commercialization of university research and highlights the growing role of academia in advancing indigenous technology development.

The licensing agreement includes an upfront payment of ₹1 crore for the patented technology, along with a seven-year royalty arrangement linked to the commercial turnover of products based on the technology. The partnership reflects a broader trend of industry–academia collaboration aimed at translating laboratory innovations into scalable industrial solutions.

India has set an ambitious target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030, with solar power expected to account for the largest share. As the country rapidly expands domestic solar manufacturing under Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes and other policy initiatives, advanced materials such as encapsulants—which play a critical role in protecting solar modules and ensuring long-term performance—are emerging as strategic components of the renewable energy supply chain.

Dr. P. Sathyanarayanan, Pro-Chancellor (Academics), SRMIST, described the partnership as a significant step toward aligning academic research with industry needs and national priorities. “Universities must move beyond knowledge dissemination to knowledge creation—and ultimately to translating that knowledge into real-world solutions.” He emphasized that while universities traditionally focus on education and placements, research achievements become truly meaningful when they lead to practical technologies that benefit society. “When industry partners come forward to adopt research developed in university laboratories, it brings immense satisfaction to researchers and demonstrates the real impact of academic innovation.” Dr. Sathyanarayanan also revealed that SRMIST is planning to establish an Industrial Research Park, which will bring industry R&D units closer to the university campus and create opportunities for students, researchers, and companies to collaborate on real-world technological challenges.

Prof. C. Muthamizhchelvan, Vice Chancellor of SRMIST, described the technology licensing agreement as the culmination of a long institutional journey from academic teaching toward research and innovation. Over the past two decades, SRMIST has steadily strengthened its research ecosystem, moving from a focus on scholarly publications to cutting-edge research supported by government agencies and industry partners. According to the Vice Chancellor, the university currently receives around ₹35 crore annually in research funding across domains such as energy, environment, healthcare, water technologies, and disruptive innovations. “If we can enhance the performance of solar cells by preventing environmental degradation and significantly extending their life and performance, then we are truly moving from fundamental research to translational research.” Prof. Muthamizhchelvan also highlighted the university’s growing intellectual property portfolio, noting that SRMIST currently holds more than 538 granted patents. With this expanding IP base, the institution has begun focusing on commercialization pathways that allow research outcomes to benefit society and industry.

“We wanted to move our research from publications to solutions that benefit society,” he added, emphasizing that the collaboration with Anabond Limited represents a visible example of how academic innovation can translate into industrial applications.

Dr. Shantanu Patil, Director of the Directorate of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (DEI), SRMIST, explained that the university has developed structured mechanisms to support intellectual property development, startup incubation, and technology commercialization. “The Directorate of Entrepreneurship and Innovation serves as a central hub that helps transform ideas developed by students, faculty, and researchers into startups, technologies, and impactful solutions.” He added that the SRM Center for Intellectual Property Rights and Protection plays a crucial role in identifying and protecting innovations emerging from the university, while the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) focuses on commercializing these innovations through industry partnerships.

The licensed technology was developed by Prof. K. Ananthanarayanan and his research team from the Department of Chemistry, SRMIST, who have been working on advanced materials for solar energy systems. Explaining the importance of encapsulation technology, Prof. Ananthanarayanan noted that while solar cells are becoming increasingly efficient, they remain highly sensitive to environmental conditions such as ultraviolet radiation, moisture, dust, and temperature fluctuations. “Encapsulants protect solar modules from ultraviolet radiation, moisture, dust, and environmental stress. When panels are expected to operate for 25 to 30 years, the reliability of this protective material becomes critical.” To illustrate the concept, he compared encapsulation to the tempered glass used to protect smartphone displays. “Just as a protective glass layer prevents damage to a phone screen, encapsulation materials protect solar cells and ensure that they continue to function reliably throughout their lifetime.”

The research team spent four to five years developing a patented polymer encapsulant specifically designed for next-generation solar technologies such as TOPCon and perovskite–silicon hybrid solar cells, which place greater performance demands on encapsulation materials than conventional systems.

“Solar energy will power the world in the future, and we are proud, in our own small way, to contribute to making that future more reliable and durable,” Prof. Ananthanarayanan said.

For Anabond Limited, the collaboration represents an important step in expanding its portfolio into renewable energy materials. Founded in 1979 by a scientist with experience in India’s nuclear research establishments, the company has grown into a major manufacturer of specialty adhesives, sealants, and advanced materials.

Mr. M. Rajan, Managing Director of Anabond Limited, said the company has built its growth on a strong foundation of research and development combined with the ability to scale laboratory innovations into commercial products. “This technology has strong potential for the future, and we are proud to partner with SRMIST in taking this innovation toward commercialization.” He explained that Anabond has extensive experience in technology transfer and industrial scaling, having worked with strategic organizations including ISRO and defense research establishments, where its products have supported demanding aerospace and missile applications. “Scaling laboratory innovations into reliable industrial products is a complex challenge, and we are confident this collaboration will successfully bring the technology to market.”

The company currently operates multiple manufacturing facilities across India and maintains a wide distribution network that supports industrial clients across sectors including aerospace, automotive, electronics, and defense.

Highlighting the broader importance of partnerships between universities and industry, Mr. Abraham, Joint Managing Director of Anabond Limited, said such collaborations are essential for converting research breakthroughs into technologies that create economic and societal value.

“Universities are hubs of innovation and new technologies. Partnering with industry enables these innovations to move from laboratory research to production scale, ultimately benefiting society and contributing to economic growth.” He also acknowledged the role of government initiatives in enabling collaboration between academic institutions and industry, particularly programs that allow companies to access advanced research infrastructure available within universities. “The partnership between SRM Institute of Science and Technology and Anabond Limited will certainly contribute to technological advancement and economic growth, while supporting the national vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat,” he added.

Institutional leaders at SRMIST emphasized that the licensing agreement was made possible through the university’s growing innovation ecosystem. Together, these institutional platforms help bridge the gap between academic discovery and real-world application.

According to SRMIST’s Technology Transfer Office, the university has already facilitated more than 17 technology transfer agreements with industry partners. However, the solar encapsulant licensing stands out as one of the first to include a structured royalty model linked to commercial success.

The university also organizes the Industrial Research and Innovation Summit (IRIS), an annual platform that brings together industry leaders, investors, researchers, and startups to explore commercialization opportunities for emerging technologies. With this licensing milestone, SRMIST reinforces its broader vision of positioning academia not only as a generator of knowledge, but also as a key contributor to India’s industrial capability and sustainable technological future.